Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Kathryn Lopez

Home
Catholic
Resetting the Conversation on The Gospel of Joy

Resetting the Conversation on The Gospel of Joy

Last updated on: December 11, 2013 at 3:11 pm by Kathryn Jean Lopez

Resetting the Conversation on The Gospel of Joy 2013-12-11T15:11:05-05:00 Kathryn Jean Lopez

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

There has been a tremendous amount of commentary surrounding The Gospel of Joy, Pope Francis’s recent apostolic exhortation, which was his feedback to the Synod on the New Evangelization Pope Benedict convened last year to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the Year of Faith.

Now that everyone seems to have commented on the commentary, Time magazine naming Pope Francis Man of the Year provides us an opportunity to reset the conversation a bit and actually look at the gift that Pope Benedict and the Holy Spirit have given us in this first pope from the Americas, one whose very life seems to be a pastoral encounter with Christ.

In gratitude, Jennifer Manning, a Catholic high-school teacher in New England, who is a volunteer with Catholic Voices USA, a group I help direct, wrote a practical reflection for my friends at The Catholic New Agency pointing to three (since he is so into three points in his regular homilies) lessons in Pope Francis’s Gospel of Joy.

Be a joyful messenger.

Know that Jesus Christ loves you.

Live the Gospel of Joy.

You can read what Jennifer has to say here.

I’ve commented a few places now that both joy and the Gospels seemed to be lost in most of the headlines and commentary about Evangelii Gaudium. Let’s all take this reset opportunity – it echoes the movement of the last year, toward Christ, opening doors.

What are you and I doing to open doors to Christ? That’s a question we ought to be asking this Advent in a prayerful way. This is about our lives and souls and we are to be missionaries! That’s Gospel truth. And oh how Pope Francis models this and implores the flock he guides (and wakes up!).

This was my reaction to Time’s announcement this morning. And this is an interview I did with another Catholic Voice, from New York, Daniela Adames. I also had a little to say about the pope’s exhortation in my syndicated column this week. Finally, Michael Coren’s new book, The Future of Catholicism, is excellent and we talk about that future extensively here.

The Future of Catholicism

The Gospel of Joy

Time Magazine

Previous Post

December 10, 2013

Nourishing the Gift of Faith

Next Post

December 12, 2013 It’s in the Lady’s Eyes

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category B16 Christian Persecution Christianity Today Culture Good Links/Must Read HHS Mandate Holy Land Must Reads Prayer Religious Liberty Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What river did the Israelites cross to enter the Promised Land?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Nile River Jordan River Euphrates River Tigris River